The January school board meeting provides an annual opportunity to review the facilities master plan, which outlines current and proposed projects.
Director of Operations Rick Mann led the board members through a presentation on Jan. 13 that has remained largely unchanged since last January. The current project to build a new cafeteria to serve the elementary and middle schools continues to dominate and delay other potential projects.
A variety of problems have pushed back the estimated completion date. The school is served by two different electric utilities, and both SWEPCO and Carroll Electric had to move service lines in the construction area. More recently, low temperatures caused delays in installing windows. Despite the delays, the project should be completed before the end of the current school year.
Other future projects include a possible storm shelter, a new bus barn, and a pre-school building. The district has qualified for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to build a storm shelter. That building would protect students during the day and would be available as a community shelter at other times.
The bus and maintenance barn will move from its present location to a five-acre site at the eastern end of the campus. That will clear space for a new pre-school building.
In other business:
- Board members were presented with certificates of appreciation during School Board Recognition Month. In an interview after the meeting, Supt. Bryan Pruitt said, “It’s an honor to work for them and for our district. They’re student-focused, and they want to do what’s best for our kids.”
- In the early 1990s, the district received a $20,000 endowment from the Edith Douglass family. Interest on that amount does not allow issuing a sustainable scholarship. Instead of gradually depleting the fund, Board President Chris McClung suggested donating the money to the Carroll County Community Foundation. With their larger pool of resources, they can manage the fund and provide an annual $1,000 scholarship to a Eureka Springs student.
- FFA students gave the board an outline of upcoming projects.